WHAT IF ARCHITECTURE & URBAN PLANNING COULD CHANGE THE WORLD?

Transcription

1 WHAT IF ARCHITECTURE & URBAN PLANNING COULD CHANGE THE WORLD?

2 We believe that architects and urban planners have a crucial role to play in facing up to one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century: creating dignified living conditions for people all over the world. DAC wishes to illustrate the positive contribution architecture is capable of making to that process. Entrance to the MAD in China Exhibition, DAC 2007 Photo: Jacob Galtt Kent Martinussen, CEO, Danish Architecture Centre (DAC)

3 DANISH ARCHITECTURE CENTRE At Danish Architecture Centre (DAC), we understand architecture as a broad concept that embraces everything from the creative process, planning and urban development to the finished space or construction involved. Our goal is to create broad interest in architecture, to clear the way for new ideas traversing traditional boundaries and to show how architecture creates cultural and economic assets for people, the industry and society. We offer a wide range of professional and cultural activities, including exhibitions, professionalisation, seminars, guided tours in the city, etc. Most of the projects we carry out are performed in conjunction with Danish and international partners who share our visions. The basic financing of DAC is provided by a partnership consisting of Realdania, the Danish Ministry of Culture and the Danish Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs. Photo: Jacob Galtt A combination of top class architects, sociologists, economists, graphic designers, communicators and exhibition designers are responsible for the highly professional nature of DAC s projects

4 VISIONARIUM FOR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES We call ourselves a visionarium, because we are driven by visions for a future where architecture and the various parties involved in building and construction, participate proactively in the development of a socially, financially and environmentally sustainable society. We initiate and facilitate projects in addition to communicating solutions in order to address the current challenges. Many of our projects are in fact also intended to create networks between national and international parties. The MAD exhibition in China, which presented the Chinese architectural firm MAD s works and visions, DAC 2007 Photo: Jacob Galtt

5 AGENDA-SETTING EXHIBITIONS At DAC, we understand architecture as much more than buildings. Architecture plays an essential role in the development of cities, living conditions, our overall consumption of natural resources, etc. Through Danish and international exhibitions DAC presents relevant themes and trends in architecture, construction and urban development. The exhibitions are often a result of long-term development and co-operation projects that pose questions and provide answers to some of the many challenges we are facing today. The Instant Urbanism Exhibition, created by Schweizerisches Architekturmuseum (S AM), curated by Francesca Ferguson, DAC 2008 Photo: Jacob Galtt

6 GLOBAL VISION AND RESPONSIBILITY We understand sustainable architecture as buildings and urban planning that create the optimum framework for life around the entire world, while at the same time creating cultural and economic assets for people, companies and societies. Architects leave their social and environmental footprints every time they erect a new building. In order to contribute to sustainable development, this requires that we also think in terms of overall solutions and make conscious choices with respect to materials, building technologies, business ethics, etc. In DAC, we show how Danish and international architects put their knowledge to work and create sustainable solutions across traditional boundaries. CO-EVOLOTION Danish/Chinese Collaboration on Sustainable Urban Development in China, produced by DAC / UiD for the International Architectural Biennial in Venice in 2006 Photo: Piero Codato, Cameraphoto Arte

7 BUILDING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES Building Sustainable Communities is an exhibition, where leading Danish architectural and engineering firms will be endorsing the UN Global Compact s ten principles for ethically and socially responsible business conduct. The exhibition will display tangible examples that demonstrate how architecture can improve living conditions for people all across the globe. Building Sustainable Communities will have its global premiere at DAC in the summer of DIGITAL PROJECT FRANK GEHRY S VISION In 2007, DAC presented an exhibition entitled Digital Project - Frank Gehry s Vision, developed in conjunction with Gehry Technologies, Gehry Partners and curator Kirsten Kiser. The exhibition looked behind the scenes at Frank Gehrys Office and showed how he exploits new technology to create impressive architecture with a logistical precision that keeps it both on time and within budget. CO-EVOLUTION CO-EVOLOTION Danish/Chinese Collaboration on Sustainable Urban Development in China, curated by UiD, focuses on the explosive growth of cities in China and the increased consumption of resources in newly developing countries. The exhibition won the Golden Lion at the architectural biennial in Venice in 2006 and has been shown in Shanghai, Sao Paulo, New York and London. ECOTOPEDIA Ecotopedia - walk the talk is DAC s contribution to architectural biennial in Venice in The exhibition invites architects, planners, researchers etc. to exchange experiences and tangible solutions involving the global climate challenges we are facing today. Ecotopedia - walk the talk is produced in conjunction with the young architectural firm CEBRA.

8 SUSTAINABLE CITIES Sustainability and urban development play a central role at DAC. Both are significant global themes, which architects, planners and decision-makers in Denmark will be working with quite extensively during the decades to come. At DAC we wish to support this work by constructing a platform for networking and sharing knowledge about sustainable solutions and visions for the future. We are taking the first step by creating a database that will collect knowledge from around the world concerning how sustainable cities may be planned and developed. The database is included in Denmark s contribution to the architectural biennial in Venice in In 2008, DAC has brought the social city up for debate and is posing the question: How do we create a socially sustainable city that can and will contain everyone? Photo: UiD / Henrik Valeur The world s cities are growing explosively, and this is putting pressure on our entire planet. There is in fact an acute need to collect international knowledge concerning how we can manage these new challenges in the best manner and ensure the sustainable development of our cities. Henning Thomsen, Head of Division for Sustainable Cities, DAC

9 INNOVATION AND OPTIMISATION OF CONSTRUCTION DAC is a platform for developing the entire construction industry. In Building Lab DK, which is a unit of DAC, we carry out projects in close co-operation with leading Danish and international participants in the construction industry. We advise companies about innovative processes and support projects from the early idea through to the finished solution. Building Lab DK has in the past three years provided professional and financial support to 15 commerciallydriven development consortiums, involving the participation of more than 100 enterprises. At Building Lab DK, we turn good ideas into practice. We seek out untried paths, test new development models and methods for innovation - and by virtue of our independence we are able to connect the various players in new and surprising ways. Mikkel A. Thomassen, Head of Division for Building Lab DK, DAC Photo: Mikkel Østergaard The Shaft is a project at Building Lab DK, developed by NCC A/S together with Valcon A/S and RH Architects A/S. The Shaft is a variable module, which collects all of a building s vertical installations into one element

10 A NATION OF ARCHITECTURE Denmark published its first architectural policy in 2007: an overall vision for the entire country. At DAC, we have initiated a number of projects that will be helping the visions to become reality. Our goals include strengthening the work of local governments with local architectural policies, ensuring that there is a strong capacity for growth in Danish architecture and strengthening the position of Danish architects in the international market. Photo: Kontraframe.dk New Danish architecture is sprouting up all over Denmark. This is the Tietgen Dormitory, built in Ørestad by Lundgaard og Tranberg Arkitektfirma A/S, in 2006

11 ARCHITECTURE FOR ALL DAC is located at Christianshavn in the middle of Copenhagen. The centre forms a frame around varying exhibitions as well as professional and cultural offerings for children, adults, professionals and everyone else with an interest in architecture. Copenhagen X is a DAC project featuring a variety of activities designed to keep the city s residents and visitors up to date with the architectural changes the city is undergoing. DAC also offers instruction, guided tours of the exhibitions, urban walks, creative workshops, etc. for primary as well as secondary school classes. Our web site at is always updated with news, calendar data and company profiles, as well as interactive and instructive educational offerings for children and adults via the Internet. In 2007 DAC was awarded with the title Nordic Architecture Centre of the Year by The architecture magazine FORUM AID. Photo: DAC Danish Architecture Centre showed the exhibition Calatrava - World Architecture, in 2006

12 OMA IS DESIGNING THE DAC OF THE FUTURE The Danish Architecture Center will be moving to a new location. The plans are finished for the Bryghus Project, which will be a multi-purpose building with offices, dwellings and exhibitions as well as public spaces both inside and outside. The project is created by Rem Koolhaas / Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). The architecture and interior decor introduce new ways of combining functions that together generate synergies. DAC expects to move into new premises in the Christians Brygge area of Copenhagen in Photo: OMA The picture shown here is the first project proposal from the OMA, which forms the foundation for a dialogue with the residents of Copenhagen as well as the local planning process. A decision on the pre-project and main project stages is expected in

13 DAC WORTH A VISIT DAC is a dynamic venue featuring exhibitions, guided tours, bookshop, café and conference centre. DAC s bookshop has the largest selection in the Nordic countries of books about architecture, design and urban planning. DAC s Conference Centre has space for both small and large meetings, conferences as well as parties and receptions with food from our own kitchen. Visitors may also enjoy a cup of coffee or a light lunch in charming surroundings in DAC s café. You can also visit DAC s bookshop and order books directly at Photo: Jakob Galtt

14 Danish Architecture Centre Strandgade 27B DK-1401 Copenhagen Denmark Opening hours: Daily 10-17:00, except Wednesday 10-21:00 Admission: DKK Free Wednesday 17-21:00 Free for children aged 12 or under Transport: Metro to Christianshavns Torv. Bus 2A, 19, 48, 81N or 350S to the Torvegade/Strandgade junction. Harbour bus to Knippelsbro. Drivers can obtain a valid parking ticket from the bookshop. DAC Danish Architecture Centre is a VISIONARIUM that develops and disseminates knowledge about architecture, building and urban development with focus on the future. DAC is core-funded by a partnership consisting of Realdania, the Danish Ministry of Culture and the Danish Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs.

15